Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-04-30

luton for going into an election of United
States Senator on May 3 does not mean
that all the majority are opposed to an
election. Many no doubt regard the res
OlutiOn as unnecessary, since there was a
probability Of adjOurning before that time.
But as it will be impossible TO finish the
work before May let them work ever 80
fast, We think there is scarcely doubt
that joint assembly will 90 into an cleo
ton on that day.
SENATOR LUCAS KNOWS A GOOD
THING WHEN HE SEES IT.
Hon. ID. B. LUCAS struck indications Of
of q rich lead when Governor WILSON
struck him for the United States Senator
ship. There is not the shadow of doubt
Ifbout this. Andlike the miner on the Pacific
bSst, when he sees what he thinks are
Indications of rich gold quartz, he is going
10 work il for all there is in it. 1t is per
fectly natural for Mr.. Lucas to do this.
III the members of the Legislature can he
convinced that they should not elect a
senator and if the United States Senate
should conclude to admit Mr.. Lucas to n
seat, il Is \ rich thing for him. The whole
value Of the appointment depends upon
these circumstances entirely and it is no
wonder Mr.. Lucas Is following a plan
somewhat as is described by the following
touching and oft quoted lines
When yoa see agood thing grab il, grab it,
When you grabs good thing, hold it, hold it,
When you catch black cat, skin him toIhe tail
But not many Democrats seem TO agree
with the opinions Mr.. Lucas expressed IN
the circular he sent to the members Of the
Legislature. The REGISTER would like to
see Senator Lucas Obliged, and no doubt
the Democrats in the Legislature feel the
same WAY. IL may be that many will
want 10 vote for him when they 90 into
;oint session. But he is asking just q little
too much when he urges them to leave I'M
done the important duty Of electing Sen
ator They do not care to have the Gov
urnor perform aduty that belongs to them,
especially when there is risk OF having
only one representative in the National
Senate. MI Lucas declaration that ne Is
going 10 hold onto the Office aud offer HIM
self willing sacrifice TO the State COnsti-
tuition is not enough to work change OF
heart among the Legislators. History fur
nishes many men who were willing to
become martys of this kind.
THE PRESIDENT AND THE LAND
GRABBERS.
The American people have cause to feel
gratified that they have q President who
is doing 50 much for land reform. II will
he recollected that some weeks ago, Gull
-oRD MILLER, Il farmer in Washington
,rritory, was about to be eyicted from his
~ the Northern Pacific Railroad.
DR,7s, MILLER had settled 100 acres
en- ~ fifty miles from the line of the
PAP. As a Republican Congress had
given this road forty miles Of land
mn Ter side Of the track, this poor man
CAI;t he would be out OF the reach OF
LACPing corporation. Buta Republic
s.'I, tess had make it possible Tor the
IaDlt any of this strip of 50 miles
O,r pn settled to indemnify itself
A mIluds outside. So in ISIS,
HundEcqLEE had put seven years OF
o oI,,T S G"s on his farm and built himself
We HyGy pleasant home, the great cor
-. reached out for his land, and
II. Is great wealth in securing legal
take the case through the courts,
TO succeed. Fortunately PTeSi-
dvELAND is q just man. He in-
le Secretary of the Interior ito
~ Rthis settler from hardship and
II il he finds the corporation is
o more land than it has already
Il 6hreCt it to select land upon which
.LLER nor =ny other citizen has
--..fh settled and made improve
ats"
The land grant given the Northern PACT
in 1861, extends from Minnesota TO the
pcific Ocean, covering fifty millions of
res. For this gift the company WAS 20
,mpletC the road by 1876. Buton falling
ngres5 extended the time two years, and
81 SCHURz, when Secretary of the In
or. lin order not to be surpassed in lib
10 the great corporation by Con
~ xtended the time still another year.
SUI onSJuly 4, 1879, the end of the time
granted but $50 of the 1852 miles had
Seeu completed, and on this 3Oth day Of
April, 1881, there stiIl remains 225 miles
uncOmpleted. But the company has been
holding the $4,000, 900 acres of land Just
the same. In the rich valley of the Colum-
bia River there are Loo, 900 acres, a large
part Of the valley, that the company holds
from settlement, and there is yet no sign
Of railroad.
The President is justly indignant that
the company should now try to steal the
farm of GUILFORD MILLER and says in his
letter TO the Secretary of the interior:
The withdrawal and reservation since
gofthousands, ifnOtmilhons, ofacres of
Nlands from the operation of the laws
\ United States, thus placing them
~ .5nd the reach Of our citizens desiring
.iler such laws to settle and make homes
<DOn the same.
Under the former orders and action Of
Interior Department this has been done
the benefit ola railroad corporation
ing no fixed, certain or definite inter
J in such lands. In this manner
benefcent policy and intention
the government in relation